Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-05-27
TOBACCO, MARYLAND MAY 81. 1887.

fathoms down among all the hideous
creatures tkat live in the sunless
depths | was rousedout of my mus
ing by the voice of the captain, who
had come up to see if all was right, as
he generally did several times during
the night, for lie was always alive TO
the fact that he had valuable ship
and precious lives under his care, and
nothing ever made him forget it.
have heard hIm say To some gentlemen
who press d him to join them in IA
bottle of champagne t. celebrate the
speedy arrival of bis vessel off the Irish
coast:
Il am much obliged to you for the
kindness which prompts the request,
but we are nearing land and this night,
of ali others, | must keep Il cool head
aud u clear eye f"r your sake and my
own.
well, as was saying, the captain
came alongside and said:
"How's her head, Mr. Brown:
Nv. n. " quarter W. sir, | an-
swered, with a glimpse at the binnacie.
Right it is-keep it so; he tade
me good night, aud watched him 60
along the deck forward to speak to the
watch on the fok'sel
Thea | began my walk again, and
my thoughts slipped away home, and
| wondered how my wife and young
sters were. lived over again in fancy
the days had spent ashore during
my last leave, and then. somehow,
memories of my boyish days crept in.
"SnddenIy curious sensation came
over me aud utterly banished all
dreaming. cannot tell you what
caused 1t, but a powerful feeling of
terror overcome me, aud trembled
like a palsied old man. A great sense
of dread of something terrible about
10 happen lied me -somsthing, |
knew not hat, anI strove against it
in vain. clung to the brid .e rail in
front, and grew calmer AS the low
voices Of some OF the men forward fell
up'n arar.
Thompson" calle aud the burly
boatswain's mate came toward me With
tn. easy roll of seaman, and touching
his cap. said
did We want me. Mr. Br.wn?'
'.Everythimg right-,he watch u
wake | asked.
"i.s. sir; tut it's pich dark, aud We
can't see Ii I've yards ahead. jim Dlxon's
for'srb."
Take look round yourself" | re.
piled.
- l.e mate sas gone, the ter
n1nnem 10 leave me. aud.
01ao.s ada ff'7AyH oTsr'
So1oD0 impression gained upon me
that | must do something; but what !
could not make out. lou have no
idea of the asful agony Was in. ami
how | stro,e 10 find out what IL was
that now feit impellvd to do. Ny
brain seemed on tisr my temples throb-
bed as though they would burst, and
a strsnge buzzing sounded IN my ears.
felt AS II was going mad and the
thought OF the Tr' at ship In charge Of
mailman on the bridge flashed across
me \ Wild feeling. that 1t would b.
better to throw myseif over boad crept
into nv sorI. aud | brlleve did make
stsp over to the side. wh-n raw Of
light broke IA upon ine. The turmoil
in my brain grew still, aud voice dis
t,nctly said In IN, ear--
Stop The ship
II luoke.i rouud sh ,rplv left and
right. but there Mas not a CREATURE on
the bridge except mv,elf | leaned
over and looked down on 10 the deck,
bu, it sa. deserted, silent and dark.
even glanced alofr. but Of 'urse saw
nothing there except gannt yards and
the sleGder braces and hits.
"All right fore anil aft, SIT" came
Thompson : Voice, and his dusky form
doomed out of the shallow.
"Wha or,ler did the Captain give
Jnst before tuu C me up: | asked.
Not that | for IA nlou-ut hought thai
It Vas his voice which had heard, bat
wanted to se,- If the bout.ualu mate
had no. iced anything.
"Ordrr, sir: Why the car'en be
turned IN.
but did not YOU hear some one saw
"Stop the ship just us you go to the
ladder foot
NO, sir. at I'll take my d.vy on.
"Nery well, you may so, but mind
YOU keep q sharp lookout
"Ay, ay, slr.' ani the man moved
away.
felt inclinced to langh at myself
for an old woman, when chilly feel
ing crept once more upon me, and
something within me this time earn
e,tiv said:
"Stop the ship.
IL shook the feeling off, however,
and determined TO give way no longer
to mordid fancies. | lighted pipe,
and began to pace briskly to aud fro.
from port to starboard and starboard
to port. But, though all traces If
fear and terror vanished. yet ever
those words Came ringing in my ear,
and the faster | walk d the more
plainly heard
"Stop the ship. St"p the ship"
"Again hailed the watch: All
right forward? Can yru See anything
ahead and peered out into the dark
ness round.
"All clear for'"rd, but We can't see
more than ten yards, sang out Thomp.
son, sulIenly.
$50 once more began my measur.
ed tramp, but louder and louder came
the command in tones Of frantic en-.
treaty.
"Stop the ship! Stop the ship!"
at was no use striving longer;
felt some potent influence force ME tc
the engine room telegraph. | seized
i the huddle. and for moment panseI